The one he stung for a double in the eighth inning Sunday night against the Reds to complete the second cycle of his career. The one stamped with No. 17 in honor of the Rockies’ retiring the number of Todd Helton during a ceremony earlier in the day.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said. “I’ll have to get (Todd) to sign it.”

Cuddyer’s cycle was not only the first in the majors this season, but he became just the third player in major league history to hit for the cycle in both the American League and National League. The others were John Olerud with the Mets in 1997 and Mariners in 2001, and Bob Watson with the Astros in 1977 and Red Sox in 1979.

Cuddy’s cycle capped a really good day for the heretofore struggling Rockies. They won the opening game of a split-double header, 10-9, on Drew Stubbs’ three-run walk-off homer. They won the night cap 10-5. It was the first time they won consecutive games since July 26.

Kansas City Royals’ Josh Willingham, right, is congratulated by Nori Aoki, of Japan, after scoring on a two-run triple by Alcides Escobar off Minnesota Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014 , in Minneapolis. Willingham drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double in the inning. (The Associated Press)

Spotlight on… Josh Willingham, outfielder, Royals

What’s up: Kansas City, which hasn’t made the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1985, is not a big-money franchise. Like the Rockies, the Royals tend to make relatively small deals in hopes of plugging holes. They don’t make megadeals that rock the baseball world. So, fittingly, Kansas City acquired Willingham from Minnesota last Monday.

Background: Willingham’s production has dipped each year since he drove in 110 runs with the Twins in 2012, but the Royals figured he could add some pop to their lineup. He drove in only 34 runs over 68 games this season with Minnesota, but he delivered big time Friday night for the Royals, hitting a three-run double in the fourth inning to help K.C. beat the Twins 6-5 at Target Field.

Saunders’ take: The Royals entered Saturday’s play having won 19-of-23 games to take a 1½-game lead over Detroit in the American League Central. K.C. comes to Coors Field on Tuesday for a quick, two-game set. The Royals didn’t have to give up a lot for Willingham, trading minor-league pitcher Jason Adam to the Twins. The Royals also will have to pay about $1.8 million of the $7 million remaining on his contract — the final year of a three-year deal. True, Willingham was hitting just .210 for the Twins, but his 12 homers in limited playing time give the Royals hope he can provide their lineup with some needed pop. If the 35-year-old Willingham provides a key hit here and there, the Royals might actually end their playoff drought.

It stood to reason that a committee of Rockies relievers going against National League Cy Young candidate Johnny Cueto was a severe mismatch Friday at Coors Field. Colorado’s bullpen carries a 4.91 ERA this season, second-worst in baseball. Cueto entered with a 2.05 ERA.

Only, that’s not how the snappy, wacky and well-played game unfolded. The Rockies — behind a six-man rotation of Matt Belisle, Nick Masset, Juan Nicasio, Rex Brothers, Boone Logan and Adam Ottavino — allowed just three runs on 11 hits. They nearly propped the Rockies up enough to topple Cueto.

It was the best collective bullpen performance of the season for Colorado. With Franklin Morales (himself a spot starter filling in an injured rotation) out with a wife in labor, Walt Weiss started Belisle instead. It was his first start since 2008.

Dig into your closets and find that old baseball glove and soccer ball and hockey stick. Or better yet, grab some sports gear at the store tonight. There are other kids who can use ‘em and love ‘em.

The Rockies, along with MLB’s Baseball Tomorrow Fund and A Precious Child (a Colorado organization helping kids living in poverty) on Saturday will collect new and gently used sports equipment to donate to giveSPORTS, one of A Precious Child’s programs that helps kids.

You may just kick-start the next Nolan Arenado or Drew Moor or Matt Duchene.

You can drop off the equipment on your way into Coors Field on Saturday after the gates open. Look for the big yellow bins.

Hey, Rockies fans, you know what you need this morning after Monday night’s 4-3 loss to the Padres? How about a little dose of humor from legendary football coach John McKay. McKay was the first head coach in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, a team that went 0-26 over it’s first two seasons.

As the Rockies continue to lose, making a third consecutive last-place finish in the NL West very likely, and the first 100-loss season in franchise history a possibility, a couple of McKay’s quips are in order.

Two months and three days after breaking his left shoulder diving for a ball at third base, Rockies veteran Michael Cuddyer is making quick work of his injury rehab stint.

In two games at Billings, Mont., for the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies, Cuddyer is 5-for-7 at the plate, with three doubles, three RBIs and three runs.

Michael Cuddyer. (Lenny Ignelzi, The Associated Press)

“I feel good. I feel real good,” Cuddyer said Friday by phone from somewhere in Montana between Billings and Great Falls. “The shoulder feels good. I haven’t had any issues with it. And I’ve taken every type of swing.”

Cuddyer got his first game action since June 5 on Wednesday as a designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a double. Then on Thursday, he played first base, went 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch.

In his first start since coming off the disabled list after breaking his left hand in early June, Rockies starting pitcher Jordan Lyles worked six innings against the Cubs at Coors Field. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

Jordan Lyles missed 54 games and 69 days while recovering from a broken left hand. It was his glove hand. His pitching hand was fine. So he figured, why not use that downtime to womp up new pitch?

Lyles returned to Coors Field on Wednesday with a brand new out pitch. While he returned to the Rockies rotation, his changed changeup made its debut.

Walt Weiss yells at home plate umpire John Tumpane as he is ejected in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians on Friday, May 30, 2014, in Cleveland. (Mark Duncan, The Associated Press)

Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning on July 26, 2014 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (David Banks, Getty Images)

Spotlight on… Jake Arrieta, right-handed pitcher, Cubs

What’s up: As the Rockies discovered Thursday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Arrieta is the real deal. The 6-foot-4 right-hander, scheduled to pitch Wednesday at Coors Field, has a 1.73 ERA in his past 11 starts, holding opponents to a .162 batting average. He’s gone from relying on a power four-seam fastball to a cutter and tight slider, and it’s made him a better pitcher.

Background: The Cubs acquired Arrieta and reliever Pedro Strop from Baltimore in an early July trade last season for veteran Scott Feldman. Arrieta was a top prospect in Baltimore, but he never lived up to his billing. But give credit to team architects Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer for trusting their instincts and finding Arrieta. He is the cornerstone of the Cubs’ future rotation.

Saunders’ take: Trading starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland in July signaled one of the final big sweeps of the Cubs’ housecleaning that was desperately needed. As longtime Chicago baseball writer Phil Rogers pointed out recently, the Cubs’ .421 winning percentage since the start of the 2010 season marks the worst period for the franchise in more than 60 years. It’s going to take more smart trades and the maturation of prospects for the Cubs to turn things around. Arrieta is a good building block. He’s always had good stuff, but his control has been suspect. But he’s cleaned that up, and his 2.65 walks per nine innings are the fewest of his professional career. If the Cubs finally turn things around, the 28-year-old figures to be a big part of it.

CarGo, who played in just 19 games after the all-star break last season, has played in just 66 of the Rockies’ 109 games this season. First came tendinitis in his left knee, followed by the benign tumor that was surgically removed from his left index finger and then the sprained ankle he suffered at home last Saturday.

He is hitting just .237 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .287, 60 points lower than his career average entering this season.Read more…

Inductees, from left, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas and Greg Maddux pose with their plaques at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, New York. ( Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

The 2014 Hall of Fame class is among the best is recent history. The players who were inducted are Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. The managers in this year’s class included Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa.

Maddux finished his career with a 355-227 record. He also was an 18-time Gold Glove winner and won the Cy Young Award four times.

Glavine, a teammate of Maddux’s at Atlanta, is another 300-game winner. He finished his career with a 305-203 record. Glavine was a five-time 20-game winner and captured the Cy Young Award twice. Glavine also knew his way around the plate, winning the Silver Slugger Award four times.

Frank Thomas was the only position player in this year’s Hall of Fame class and had one of the best nicknames in the game, “The Big Hurt.” I mean, how awesome is that nickname?

Thomas was known for swinging a big piece of lumber at the plate and put up unreal numbers. He finished his career with 521 home runs and was a lifetime .301 hitter. Thomas won back-to-back AL MVP awards in 1993 and the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Maddux had some prankster in him to go with his talent, with a fart joke reference as well as making fun of former teammate John Smoltz’s receding hairline over the years.

Below you will find full videos from the induction ceremony at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.​

Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs signs autographs before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 25, 2014 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (David Banks, Getty Images)

Spotlight on… Anthony Rizzo, first baseman, Cubs

What’s up: The Cubs may look like a bunch of prospects pointing toward 2016, or thereabouts. But Rizzo is a legitimate star and he’s maturing into a legitimate power hitter. After the Cubs beat the Cardinals 7-6 at Wrigley Field on Friday, Rizzo was hitting .285 with 55 RBIs and 25 home runs, most in the National League.

Background: In 2008, soon after being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, the 18-year-old Rizzo was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After going through six months of chemotherapy, he was declared free of cancer. That made what he did Tuesday even more compelling. Just hours before the Cubs played the Padres, Rizzo visited the cancer ward at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. That’s where he met a 22-year-old cancer patient named Mike. Rizzo didn’t promise to hit a home run for Mike, but according to the Cubs’ website, Rizzo said he would certainly try. Rizzo then blasted two homers that night.

Saunders’ take: Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau was the favorite to win the fans’ vote for the final spot on the NL all-star team. He was beaten out by Rizzo, who drew 8.8 million votes. When it happened, I shrugged it off as typical Chicago politics and the city’s historic reputation of being able to “get out the vote.” But the more I looked at Rizzo’s game, the more I realized what a good young player he is at age 24. The Northsiders haven’t had a lot to cheer for of late, but Rizzo is the real deal.

That surgery in part led to Tulowitzki playing in just 47 games in 2012. Meyers removed scar tissue that was irritating a nerve in his groin.

Tulowitzki’s high thigh strain is not the same injury — but the muscles involved are in the general vicinity. And it’s possible that Tulowitzki was overcompensating and stressing a hip flexor because of the 2012 injury.

It’s not uncommon for MLB players to seek consultations on their injuries. And the Rockies, as a team, often ask for it themselves. Tyler Chatwood saw three doctors before deciding on a Tommy John surgery last week.

For now, Tulowitzki’s visit with Meyers is only a consult and there is no surgery planned, the team said.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado fields a ground ball in the third inning against the Pirates on Friday at Coors Field. (Chris Schneider, The Associated Press)

Nolan Arenado was benched by Rockies manager Walt Weiss on Friday in the fourth inning after he ran slow through a ground out against the Pirates at Coors Field.

“We talk a lot about playing the game hard and playing the game right. And how important that is,” Weiss said. “Especially when you’ve been getting your ass kicked for awhile. It’s even more important then. It’s imperative.”

Arenado’s check swing in the fourth sent the ball hopping about 10 feet. It was frustrating swing after he already grounded out in the second inning. But this one was bobbled off the glove of Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton and Arenado had a chance to beat out the throw.

The Rockies are a big piece in the puzzle that is the looming trade deadline.

Speculation about whom the club is willing to shop starts with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, moves on to Jorge De La Rosa and trickles down to outfielders Drew Stubbs and Brandon Barnes.

There has also been chatter, but no real evidence, that closer La Troy Hawkins also could be dealt.

The latest national take on Tulo and CarGo comes from Joel Sherman of the New York Post who breaks down the pros and cons of the players ending up with the Mets or Yankees. According to Sherman: “Mets officials have told their Rockies counterparts if Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez are ever made available, they want in on the action.”

Before the start of Wednesday’s series finale between the Rockies and Nationals at Coors Field, Colorado outfielder Brandon Barnes and Washington reliever Aaron Barrett got into a heated stare-down standoff.

And by heated, we mean it was hot outside.

In a 162-game season, an airing of grievances is occasionally necessary — and, in baseball tradition, the National Anthem standoff is one of those outlets.

The Rockies replaced Tulowitzki, 29, with Josh Rutledge at shortstop to start the bottom of the fourth inning.

Tulowitzki has played in 91 of the Rockies’ 97 games this season — his healthiest year since 2009, when he played in 151.

Tulowitzki is among the top three National League hitters in nearly every major offensive category and was the top vote-getter in the NL for last week’s All-Star Game. Going into Saturday, he led the major leagues with a .342 batting average.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.